When I planned my trip to Europe, the Cinque Terre was one of the places I looked forward to visiting most. I would be going in April, during off-season, and really looked forward to encountering this place I had heard so much about.
On my travels, nature is what speaks to me the most and I had a vision of submerging myself in the energy of this beautiful place. I envisioned a sleepy Italian fishing village that would be similar to what I had experienced in Trapani. Unfortunately, for me, the Cinque Terre turned out to be the worst place I had ever visited. Here’s why:
5 Reasons Why Cinque Terre Is The Worst Place Ever
1. Herds of People
Even though, this was supposed to be the off-season, there were herds of people everywhere. To walk the few steps from the train to any village, would take at least twenty minutes. The crowds weren’t just around when getting off the train, though. They were everywhere. Along the back streets, on the beaches, in the restaurants. One day, I was relieved to find a park bench overlooking a gorgeous view, and there was only one other person around. She happened to be a tour guide, and she, too, was lamenting at the number of people around. But, she warned me, it got much busier in high season, and she told me I was lucky to be visiting when I was. I had to stand in line to take almost every photo that I took there, and never felt like I was in an authentic Italian town. Instead, it felt like a cleaned up, Disneyfied version. This was not the Italy I had come to know and love.
2. Mediocre Food
After spending almost a month eating my way through Sicily and Sardinia, I was completely disappointed in the touristy food that was being served in most of the restaurants of the Cinque Terre. I tried to find restaurants in the Cinque Terre that catered more to the locals than the tourists, but when I did, there still seemed to be a complete lack of attention to the preparation of the food.
3. Everything Was Overpriced
Compared to other parts of Italy I visited, everything was overpriced. The food was more expensive. (A restaurant meal ranged between $25-45 per person!) The hotel rooms were pricey with budget hotels starting at $85 USD a night. (There were hostels, but even those were more expensive than normal.) I guess your paying for the view, but to me, it wasn’t worth the price.
4. Drunk-Ass Buckets And Bucket Lists
The Cinque Terre has become so popular that many people are coming (in droves) to cross it off their bucket list. They have no desire to submerge themselves in the true culture of Italy.
Many of them are there on day trips just to see the pretty views, so they can check it off their list. What’s even more strange, is that many of them spend their days in the bars, drinking the “drunk-ass” buckets and miss the beauty that is surrounding them. One Sunday, the only place open for breakfast at 7am was the wine bar. There were already people inside drinking wine flights that early in the morning! I guess I’ll never understand people who spend thousands of dollars to visit a place, and then dull their senses to it when they arrive.
5. There Are No Secret Trails Left
Before visiting, I had hopes of getting lost in the solitude of nature. Because of the landslide on the Via dell’Amore, most of the trails were closed to analyze their safety. The worst part was that many tourists were using these trails anyway, putting their own safety at risk. There are alternative trails in the high parts of the cliffs, but even these were full of people. There were no secret places to get lost in or to get away from the hordes of other people.
While there’s no arguing that the Cinque Terre is still a beautiful area, there are better options for discovering the real Italy.
My advice? Take the Cinque Terre off your bucket list, and travel somewhere new. Go somewhere that you’ve never heard of. There’s something to be said for the path less traveled. Go to that small town just waiting to be discovered by you.
55 Comments
Anna || The Blonde Banana
I hate going to places that are FILLED with people. I live in New York City so on my travels that’s exactly what I’m trying to escape. That’s the main reason I travel to less popular destinations instead. I’d love to see all the “bucket list” items in Europe but it’s so expensive and once you get there you just end up having to wait in long lines, pay crazy admission fees and you can’t even see through the crowds.
paradise
Me too, Anna. Yes, I experienced that far too often in Europe, unfortunately…
stefano
you should come instead and see with yur eyes
stefano
if you live in NYC this is one of the best escape in all the world
Candice @ The Let's Go Ladies
Thank you so much for this! All too often I see travel bloggers writing about how AMAZING and WONDERFUL and LOVELY every since place they’ve visited has been. It’s great to see someone actually telling it like it is. Very refreshing!
paradise
No, i will always be honest as to what my experiences are. (Maybe, even sometimes, a little too honest!!)
Rika | Cubicle Throwdown
Wow…ick… definitely taking this off my bucket list. This looks horrible. All those people – my god! And those buckets?? What the hell? Italy-turned-Thailand! No thanks!
paradise
Yeah, pretty much, Rika…that’s a good way to describe it…
Camille - This American Girl
It’s really too bad that you had this experience 🙁 I went several years ago in March and there was nobody, we stayed in a cheap room in an old lady’s house, and had some of the best wine and ravioli I’ve ever had. Perhaps it’s a summertime thing?
paradise
I will say, the wine is very good, the views are beautiful, but it was just too Disneyfied for me!!! I think for a true Italian experience, there are much better places…
Victor Tribunsky
OK. Thank you, Val. Now we are sure we will not go to Cinque Terre.
paradise
You are welcome!! There are so much better places to travel…
stefano
i am sorry for you, you haven’t great experience in 5t… i bet if you come back escaping july and august the rest is simply great!
paradise
I was there in April!
Mary @ Green Global Travel
Oh, I’m sorry this wasn’t the best experience for you! Your next trip will be extra special then! And your photos are still beautiful!
Franca
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy Cinque Terre despite being a breathtaking place. I have to agree with you though that the amount of people there can be simply crazy and ruin completely your experience. We went when during the low season and hiked early in the morning and it was as busy as you showed, we also took the alternative path on top of the hills and it was just us, only 2 or 3 people walked by, it was very peaceful, shame these paths were crowded too when you were there because the views form up there are stunning!
Regarding the food we had been warned that it was best to take some packed lunch instead of eating there because the prices were too high and the quality of the food not amazing and considering your experience I’m glad we did.
paradise
Taking my own food would have been a great idea!! (Which is just sad to have to do in Italy, though!)
Frank
Hi Val – you almost have the same experience as I did word for word: http://bbqboy.net/photo-essay-on-gorgeous-vernazza-cinque-terra/
I totally agree with you, especially if you visit the area on a day trip. I will say however that it does get quieter on weekday evenings and early mornings before the hordes descend again. I wouldn’t come back for all the reasons you cite – but I would say there’s tons of worst places in the world.
Frank (bbqboy)
paradise
Wow! I am glad to know I wasn’t the only one. And you are so right about the locals treating you the same as the Thai people on Phi Phi. You got some great shots, though!!
Frank @thewondernuts
It’s one of the most popular destination on Rick Steves’ guidebooks. I am sure that may be one of the reason why. May need to go during winter. :p
Laura
Cinque Terre is one place in Italy we haven’t been yet, but I’ve always wanted to go. This definitely makes me think twice.
paradise
Yeah, there are much more authentic and beautiful spots in Italy!!
Stefano
Authentic as 5terre.? Difficult to find
Gabi@TheNomadicFamily
have never been to Cinque and don’t think i will be willing to visit it now after reading your post. 🙂 great one Paradise 🙂 Lots of Love -Gabi
Gran Canaria Local
It was our intention to spend our honeymoon in nearby Levanto. We’ve always regretted not making it there. But, having read your candid post, maybe we made the right decision in the end.
Jeff @ Go Travelzing
I visited the Cinque Terre 20 years ago and it was nothing like that. It was popular with Europeans but was not as well known with everyone else. Crowds of tourist always ruins things. It reminds me of Key West which was a nice place until the cruise ships came.
Kay Dougherty
I’m so sorry you had that experience – the crowds look horrific! My sister and I went in mid-September about 5 years ago and absolutely loved it! We didn’t encounter crowds at all – quite the contrary, we walked the whole trail and often didn’t see any other people for quite a while. We had fairly lousy, rainy weather but still loved it and found some good food although it was expensive as it is anywhere that has to bring everything in manually – like Venice. We also had 4 days there and time to see things so could pace out what we wanted to do. It makes me sad to see those crowds….ugh.
Karin Peterson
I am sorry you have not enjoyed your trip to Cinque Terre. But i think it was because you went with the wrong expectations to begin with.
Cat of Sunshine and Siestas
Sounds like a nightmare. I wish I’d gone to Cinque Terre five years ago when I had the chance, but am also not dying to see it.
As for the toothpicks – if the squid were stuffed, it’s to keep the insides in! Disarming, but practical!
Juergen
I have visited Cinque Terre twice in the mid eighties (yes, that’s ages ago!), and both times left in a hurry! I found the region and small villages picturesque, but even back then Cinque Terre were too crowded!
I went both times with my own vehicle, coming from Germany.
The first visit was in late August, and some villages we had to leave straight away because we simply could not find any parking! Just finding a spot to turn a normal VW Kombi was a challenge.
The second time I went in late May, hoping it would be quieter. It was, but still not what I would call a relaxing get away. I finally got in my car and drove straight to the Atlantic coast of France, where I had spent the summer before at Carcans.
Shobha George
Wow! that is a lot of people. I went 12 years ago and it was still pretty isolated. We were planning on taking our kids but may not bother now.
paradise
Yes, I visited a great deal of Italy, and enjoyed all of it much more than I did here. . I would take them anywhere else but here!
Lillie - @WorldLillie
Noooooo!!! I visited Cinque Terre in 2002 and it was SO GREAT. Boo hoo that it’s gotten over-discovered! I suppose it’s better to know this now and so not blow all my money trying to get back to a paradise that no longer exists.
paradise
Yes, unfortunately it has, Lillie. It made me so sad.
Casey @ A Cruising Couple
Sorry to hear about your experience! I visited Cinque Terre not all that long ago and LOVED it! Looks like maybe you hit an exceptionally busy day?
paradise
I was there for four days, and they were all like that! But it wasn’t just the crowds, the whole vibe was terrible and nothing like an authentic Italian town!
Jennifer
Cinque Terre is an extremely touristy place and after living in Italy for more than 5 years now, I don’t think such a thing as a sleepy fishing village really exists anymore. Like any touristy spot in Italy, you’ve got to do your research ahead of time and seek out the gems. They still exist for meals, but on the tourist path you’re more likely than not to find terrible, overpriced, and probably frozen food that isn’t even Italian.
Ed
Thanks so much for pointing out these miserable tourist traps. You are so right, there are many other great places to visit…don’t live by somebody else’s bucket list. I went through there a good 10 years ago and it was fine then so I was lucky…not that it was really on any personal bucket list to begin with…
Jade
What a shame! I have wanted to go here since I saw it on a bunch of blogs a few years ago, but you are making me question it. The crowds in your photos look SO annoying
Katie Featherstone
This sounds like my worst nightmare. I think that this is the danger of bucket lists really- you build the place up in your mind and then it’s often a massive, expensive disappointment.
Celia Prosecchino
This is a beautiful region and I have have spent some wonderful early spring days here with the villagers almost to myself. I think like everywhere we need to protect and respect these beautiful places both as locals and tourists. Greed for making a quick buck can ruin the beauty and the attraction of these tourist spots. I hope we can learn and think about the correct tourism that helps to preserve rather than destroy., Without tourists these villagers would die but too many kills them as well . We need to find a balance.
Iolanda
I live near the area and I visit regularly for photography, out of season of course. Hardly anyone around, food fabulous and the scenery breathtaking….. late autumn and winter season is the best!! The mayor of the area created this type of tourism to generate economy, maybe he tool it too far!! Still it is worth a visit and no more expenisive then other areas of Italy a part from the south where food is far cheaper!!
Peter Hoogstaden
Some of the points you are making are definitely true. But these are true fore many ‘tourist traps’- which however are often beautiful. Therefore we Always recommend to yes, go and see the Cinque Terre, but include some more ‘off-the-beaten-track’ villages in your hiking tour. And also along the Cinque Terre, with the right advise, you can still experience nature, beauty & silence!
P.S. There are many other paths – most open: http://www.genius-loci.it/tour/cinque-terre-footpaths-spring-2014
Come over again andgive the area a second chance !
A presto!
Peter
Sergio
Hi! I’m really sorry for your unlucky experience, but I have something to say about your 5 point… not in sequence, I m not a tour operator and not a native of one of the 5 accused lands…
First of all, april is not low season, from easter to 15 october expecially on friday saturday and sunday people from everywhere reach 5terre by train and boats to swim, take pics and actually eat food from liguria
after that, you can’t compare southern prices with that so touristic places of the north (my father come from Campania, so what I’m sayin is a fact, not some racist thought) also I m not comparing 5 terre with Firenze and Venezia, but business is business..I mean the question is how much that restaurants give to the workers
for the records, seppie con piselli come with toothpeaks inside for a reason, and I don’believe you did not really liked it, maybe you where upset for the rest and you start hating eveything
finally, I could go on about that wine bar with drunk people inside and no bar open and other stuffs you wrote (I think you really where unluck), but my question is: is your post a joke? I often go to 5 lands and it’s not disneyland, and you can take lot of pictures all alone with the view just letting go any wave of tourist.
i agree with you about the orrible train service, but solutions are not easies. Do you think they have to close that places and put an high price for enter there?
Sorry for my english ciao S.
paradise
Maybe I am lucky, but for me it was the worst place I’ve ever been. And yes, I really didn’t like the food. These are my opinions which is why this is my blog. Everyone else can have different ones and that’s what makes the world a great place!! To me, there are much better spots in the world!!
marco
Dear Mrs. paradise these are the risks of traveling in a group, what we see in the pictures from the published which appear both in Corniglia to Monterosso that the same people. The guides do not take you on the trails because they do not have the time, in half a day telling you stories about the fantastic and imaginative 5Terre, where the version more ‘credible’ than the fishing village, but just look around and see that the cultivation of the vine is and it was the main activity. Another problem with traveling in a group and ‘ottimizare gains and reduce costs with menu then’ a few Euros you can not get some high quality ‘(ps sticks are not forgotten on squid but we need to make sure that does not come out during cooking the filling) i no longer ‘desire to continue but I hope I have understood that the 5terre require more’ than a few hours and full freedom of movement without fixed routes
paradise
Marco, I didn’t travel in a group! I was also there for 4 days…
cristina
I believe you should come again. And have a different experience, as it’s still possible, to visit the Cinque Terre from the “back door”.
It is like to go to Venice or Florence….a mess of people but on few squared kilometers, where the five villages were built like skyscrapers on the rocks with the wineyard and olive trees right on the steep hills back, facing the sun and the blue sea.
Come again to experience not only the bad. Even during the high season, where also the natives would like to be born in some other place! you can find unique and uncroweded paths, good food, a nice jump in the clear water, a nice drink at the sunset.
Some noise in the evening?…maybe due to some drunk tourist enjoying to much the party!
Please give a second chance to such a unique place (where Erice is beatiful too…but it is not the same!)
Maggie S
I was just in the Cinque Terre this past August, 2015 and it wasn’t like you described at all. I went to all 5 towns over the course of three days. There were definitely tourists around and I wouldn’t describe it as “sleepy”. It was quite a vibrant place. But the small town aspect struck me as a local chef picked his tomatoes under my window every morning and happily wished passerby good morning. I also hiked from Monterosso to Vernaza and it was incredible! I would give the Cinque Terre another chance. It was one of my favorite places I visited in a Italy.
Ken
Not ‘everyone’ should visit the Cinque Terre …. please……
Debbie
Finally one person that speaks the truth out of a very popular destination! Thank you for sharing your experience with us so we avoid spending our money to places that do not really worth the visit. Bacause I also thought cinque terre is a traditional italian village…
Mighty Traveller
It sounds awful, even though the photos look amazingly beautiful. I hope you won’t get discouraged from visiting other Italian towns. Safe and happy travels!
paradise
Oh, I absolutely loved the other Italian towns I visited. Don’t worry, I’m not done with Italy yet!